Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Aug. 23, 2024.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Aug. 23, 1970, the Salad Bowl strike began in California. Organized by farm labor leader Cesar Chavez, between 5,000-10,000 laborers walked off the job, leading to the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history.

According to reporting at the time, as the days went by, more workers went on strike. The price of lettuce doubled and lettuce growers lost an estimated $500,000 a day. In September, the United Farm Workers asked Americans to boycott lettuce not picked by the group. Soon violence broke out, including a bombing at a UFW regional office.

In December, Chavez was arrested for ignoring a court order to stop boycotting the lettuce indu

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